Seton Hall University Invites Community to Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony, Winter Holiday Concert

SOUTH ORANGE, N.J. – The community is invited to Seton Hall University on Tuesday, December 1, 2015 to celebrate Christmas at the Hall. Sing along to Christmas carols with our campus choirs, take pictures with the Seton Hall Pirate and enjoy free hot chocolate and other special holiday treats. Christmas at the Hall will begin with a Mass at the Chapel of the Immaculate Conception at 5:00 p.m. and the Sixth Annual Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony on the University Green at 5:45 p.m.

“Christmas at the Hall is a very special time for our community to come together and celebrate,” said Mariel Pagan, assistant dean for Student Activities. “It is a wonderful way to end the semester and prepare for a bright new year.”

The evening will be emceed by Robin Cunningham, associate vice president of Freshman Studies, and Winston Roberts, assistant dean of Students. Seton Hall President A. Gabriel Esteban will be joined by alumni, staff and students to light the majestic 60-foot Norway spruce that will showcase 43,000 lights. The event will include musical performances by the University Chorus, Seton Hall University Gospel Choir, Immaculate Conception Seminary Schola Cantorum and a debut performance by a cappella group Seton Notes. This year, the Seton Hall Ecology Club will display its Eco-Tree Christmas Tree Project, a tree made from recyclable products that features solar lights, in the campus garden.

Attendees are also invited to participate in the Division of Volunteers Efforts (DOVE) Food Drive that evening by donating nonperishable items for St. John’s Soup Kitchen in Newark and Our Lady of Sorrows food pantry in South Orange. Each person who brings two of the following items will receive a special gift from Seton Hall: canned vegetables; instant mashed potatoes; stuffing; canned soup; pasta sauce; sugar; salt; pasta; peanut butter or other nonperishable item.

“DOVE is honored to partner with Christmas at the Hall each year,” said Michelle Peterson, director of DOVE. “During this season of giving, Seton Hall University unites to contribute food and toys to our impoverished neighbors. DOVE interfaces our University and those in the surrounding communities who are in need. It is our mission to provide the infrastructure that enables the Seton Hall community to reach out in the spirit of love and generosity.”

In addition, everyone who brings an unwrapped toy for the DOVE Toy Drive will receive a blue Santa hat while supplies last. Those who are unable to attend on December 1 can drop off toys and nonperishable items until December 17 in the DOVE Office on campus.

Christmas at the Hall will continue on Wednesday, December 2, at 7:30 p.m., with the annual Seton Hall University Winter Holiday Concert held at the South Orange Performing Arts Center (SOPAC). Presented by the Seton Hall Arts Council, the concert will feature the Seton Hall University Chorus, Chamber Choir, Orchestra and Concert Band under the direction of Assistant Professor and Director of Choral Activities Jason Tramm. The concert is free and open to the public, but it is strongly recommended that people reserve their tickets in advance since the concert has been filled to capacity in previous years. Seats can be reserved by calling the SOPAC box office at (973) 313-2787 or visiting http://www.sopacnow.org/seton-hall-university-winter-holiday-concert/.

For more details on Christmas at the Hall, please visit http://www.shu.edu/christmas/.